Classic Not Plastic: Your Guide to the Legendary Long Beach Scooter Rally

Updated for the Rally’s 20th Anniversary!

Welcome to your guide to the Long Beach Classic Scooter Club’s annual rally, Classic Not Plastic. Held over Memorial Day Weekend in Long Beach, California, CNP brings together dozens of vintage Lambrettas and Vespas owners, with music, food, raffle prizes, and epic rides along the Pacific Ocean.

Ready to immerse yourself in the details of this iconic event? Let’s go!

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Rally History

Founded by Long Beach Classic Scooter Club in 2006 and created by club member Jon Mackey, Classic Not Plastic is a vintage-only rally, meaning your scooter must be manual-shift, made with metal*, and definitely over 25 years old.

The event draws visitors and riders from faraway places and is a favorite rally for Californians, who drive or ride to Long Beach from all over the state.

Thematic artwork announcing Classic Not Plastic is carefully crafted each year to put a creative spin on existing logos or icons. Notable artists contribute their best, and the rally theme is celebrated with commemorative designs.

The 2024 artwork by LBCSC member Pete Nicholson pays tribute to the cult classic Repo Man, reimagining the film’s eerie, glowing car as a vintage scooter soaring over the streets of Long Beach.

The Weekend

Each year, Classic Not Plastic kicks off with a meet-and-greet, often with a live band playing or DJs spinning records. The energy is festive as friends near and far gather to enjoy the next three days.

For years, CNP has claimed DiPiazza’s, 5205 Pacific Coast Highway, as its headquarters for the weekend’s events, creating a celebratory vibe centered around vintage scooters.

On Saturday morning, fans, riders, supporters, and non-riders meet amid dozens of classic bikes lining the front of DiPiazza’s and Park Plaza Center. Guests collect their pre-paid rally packs: swag bags containing stickers, raffle tickets, t-shirts, maps, and other regalia for the weekend, with sponsors including Cartel Ink, Planet Lambretta, Scooter Mercato, and Scooter Speed.

Around noon, over a hundred scooters take to the streets, covering ground from Long Beach to Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, and Rancho Palos Verdes, before returning inland near San Pedro.

Saturday evening, after the ride, participants go their separate ways for a few hours to dine out, roam about, or chill, reconvening at DiPiazza’s for live music.

Bands from previous years of Classic Not Plastic include 16 Again, Kingston Beat All-Stars, and The Luxuries.

On Sunday, Classic Not Plastic continues with a Poker Run, where riders stop by dive bars, cafés, and other notable Long Beach locations, collecting cards and competing to build the best poker hand.

By Sunday evening, Classic Not Plastic rallygoers are on their way home, and locals are settling back into life, everyone with another incredible year under their vintage belts.

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About The Area

Founded in 1888, Long Beach, California, is a dynamic coastal community that blends history, culture, and innovation. Home to renowned California State University, Long Beach, the city is a hub of academia with a salty splash of entertainment.

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If you’re like most visitors, Long Beach will entice you with its beautiful weather and quirky experiences designed to captivate and inspire.

Where to Stay

Classic Not Plastic attendees typically choose hotels near the historic Zaferia village neighborhood, where most weekend activities happen.

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Rally participants look for easy, secure spaces for their vintage Lambrettas and Vespas, plus perks like swimming pools or free parking. Wherever you stay, be sure to book early. Since it’s Memorial Day weekend, most places fill up fast.

Hotel Current – Recommended!

Hotel Current, 5325 East Pacific Coast Hwy, offers fantastic, eco-friendly accommodations with the best location for the Classic Not Plastic weekend. Year after year, it remains the preferred hotel for rally attendees.

Located near DiPiazza’s, Hotel Current features lush landscaping, a shimmering pool, and spacious rooms with modern decor and colorful paintings.

Rumor has it some rallygoers in ground-level rooms stash their bikes inside at night, but some things are better left up to your own discovery.

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Long Beach Marriott

The Long Beach Marriott, 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, is a short drive to Classic Not Plastic and close to the LGB airport, which is convenient for anyone flying to the rally. The hotel has a tranquil feel with large, modern rooms at standard prices.

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Holiday Inn Long Beach – Airport by IHG

Located at 2640 Lakewood Boulevard, the Holiday Inn Long Beach features standard prices, modest rooms, and easy access to Freeway 405.

Another location that’s close to the Long Beach Airport and still near the rally, Holiday Inn Long Beach is a great choice for relaxing after a long scooter ride.

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Fun Fact: Park Estates Neighborhood

In addition to historic Zaferia village, nearby Park Estates is an exclusive custom tract neighborhood near the action for Classic Not Plastic. Three of the homes in Park Estates were designed by Richard Neutra, the famous Los Angeles modern architect.

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What to Pack

As with most vintage scooter rallies, CNP attendees should pack their best jeans or pants, comfortable shoes, t-shirts, riding jackets, gloves, and helmets. For evening dress, think old-school Mod with a hint of Ska, and bust out your favorite Fred Perry shirt or A-line dress. Anything goes, really!

Where to Eat and Drink

The Crooked Duck – $ Best for Breakfast

Just a short walk from Hotel Current at 5096 E Pacific Coast Highway, The Crooked Duck is a Long Beach staple for fresh, inventive comfort food.

You’ll often find owner Joey Rooney greeting guests among the “quacky” decor, serving up standout dishes like their signature avocado toast and perfectly poached eggs: a great way to start the day!

Cocorenos – $ Local favorite! Recommended

A standard at 3400 East Broadway, Cocorenos in Belmont Heights has been a local favorite for decades, and is well-known for its delicious Mexican cuisine and the adjoining Reno Room.

Fragrant staples like mushroom tacos, chicken tortilla soup, and carnitas plates mingle con gusto amid daily specials, offering something for everyone.

Don’t miss the Reno Room, with specials like Whiskey Wednesday: dark liquor in a dark bar, mid-week? Bottoms up!

Ammatoli – $$$$ Decadent Levantine Cuisine

Woman-owned and established by Chef Dima from Amman, Jordan, Ammatoli, 285 East Third Street, presents diners with an extensive menu of dishes from the Levant region.

Featured dishes include shwarma, msakhan, manoushe, and moussaka with an eclectic blend of spices and sauces. NA drinkers will love the decadent non-alcoholic Champagne: bubbly heaven!

LBX The Hangar – $$ Upscale Variety

A modern structure spanning about 17,000 square feet, The Hangar, 4069 North Lakewood Boulevard, is home to more than a dozen breweries, cafés, eateries, and shopping retailers.

Enjoy an array of tasty vegan dim sum from Morning Nights. The fresh, filling menu is perfectly complemented by the decor, which features vintage luggage tag collages and oversized historic local photography

Café Sevilla – $$$ Spanish Tapas, Sangria, and Live Music

Fans of fresh seafood, small plates, and live Spanish guitar will love Café Sevilla, 140 Pine Avenue in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter.

The menu includes savory stuffed dates, a classic Spanish tortilla, and Coca – a Barcelona-style Flatbread with Manchego and fresh herbs. ¡Buen provecho!

How to Get There

Whether you’re road-tripping from Northern California or heading from inland to the coast, the main roads to Long Beach are California Highway 1, Interstate 5, and the Pacific Coast Highway, plus connections like the 110, 405, and 710.

If you’re familiar with the driving directions from SNL’s The Californians, you’ll want to map out your journey in advance. Remain positive and drive with care!

🚘 Driving to Long Beach? Rent a car and share the cost with friends!

If you’re flying to CNP, the closest major airport is Long Beach Airport (LGB). At 4100 Donald Douglas Drive, the airport is three miles northeast of downtown. It features many major carriers, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and United Airlines.

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If you’re flying to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), at 1 World Way in L.A., you’ll arrive about 22 miles from downtown Long Beach, for an average 40-minute drive via 405.

Each year, several dedicated riders make the trek via vintage scooter. If you ride, remember there’s safety in numbers! Join a friend, pack light, and be prepared for any probable roadside repairs.

Wrap Up

This concludes your guide to the Long Beach Classic Scooter Club’s annual rally, Classic Not Plastic, and practically all there is to know about this amazing SoCal event.

The smell of two-stroke smoke and the sound of vintage engines hitting the coast is something you have to experience firsthand. Hope to see you there in the mix!

🙌🏾 Many thanks to Long Beach Classic Scooter Club members Andy Holdridge, Brian Superb, Frank Bruce, and Pete Nicholson for the facts and photos on Classic Not Plastic All-Vintage Scooter Rally. 🙌🏾